Dressing tent



Feb. 6, 1951 H. w. WRIGHT 2,540,411

DRESSING TENT Filed Jan. 31, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet l ISnventor Bu J/Wqru HAY/6H7 Gttorneg:

Feb. 6, 1951 w w 2,540,411

DRESSING TENT Filed Jan. 31, 1947 3 Sheets-Shoat 2 I 3m entor 1i zz/5m L7 mzaqr Cittomegs Feb. 6, 1951 H. w. WRIGHT 2,540,411

DRESSING TENT Filed Jan. 51, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet S IIIIIIIIIIII Patented Feb. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DRESSING TENT Henry W. Wright, Belt, Mont.

Application January 31, 1947, Serial No. 725,612

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in a dressing tent.

It is the principal purpose of my invention to provide a dressing tent so constructed and arranged that it may be knocked down into small component parts which are easily stored in the luggage compartment of an automobile. The tent is so constructed as to provide facilities for bathing as well as dressing. It has means for mounting a wash basin and seat and may be provided with other facilities such as a mirror and a pocket for toilet articles in the canvas fabric that forms the walls of the tent.

I am aware that portable shower units have been heretofore provided, however, according to my invention the portable unit is so constructed as to readily lend itself to use by those camping outdoors and traveling by automobile where the necessity for equipment that can be stored in the smallest possible space is so great. According to my invention I provide in combination a frame which forms the basic unit of the construction. This frame is flat and, therefore, does not take up any appreciable amount of room. It serves to mount supporting legs for the fabric enclosure and serves also to mount a removable container supporting framework by which a water container can be supported above the frame to provide a shower bath.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the claim. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood from the following description of a preferred form of the invention which is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic view of a dressing tent constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a View in side elevation of the framework of the tent showing also the relative location of a mirror and pocket on the fabric enclosure;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the main frame of the tent with the receptacle supporting framework mounted thereon;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line l4 of the Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the type of telescoping connection used in securing the two parts of the supporting legs together;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the type of mounting used for the seat and wash basin;

Figure 7 is a plan view illustrating the shape of the fabric enclosure used, and

Figure 8 is a plan view of a cover section which may be utilized to form the tent into a covered shelter when desired.

Referring now in detail to the drawings my improved tent construction employs a main frame In which may be constructed of any suitable metal, preferably I employ a light metal alloy in order that the weight of the frame ID will not be excessive. The size of the frame and the particular shape thereof may vary. I prefer to use a size of about two feet square for the frame. In each corner of the frame I mount a socket II, which is merely a tube riveted, welded or otherwise secured in the corner of the frame. The tube is preferably made noncircular in cross section so as to receive corresponding shaped ends i3 on a series of supporting legs l2. With a rectangular frame 10 such as that shown four of the legs [2 are employed. These legs are constructed of the same light weight material as the frame l0 and are preferably tubular and telescoping. The details of the leg structure will be described more fully later. The ends I3 of the legs are offset at an angle so that, when they are inserted in the tubes I l the legs will extend outward and downward. Since the ends l3 and the tube I l are so shaped as to prevent turning of the legs in the tube, a stable support for the frame Ill is provided without the necessity of any fastening elements.

The legs l2 and the frame ID are enclosed by a sheet M which is shaped as illustrated in Figure 7. The sheet [4 may be of any suitable material such as canvas or a plastic sheeting. This sheet has hooks I5 along one edge as shown which are adapted to engage over the frame Ill. The sheet l4 desirably also has tie strings l5 along two edges as shown. These tie strings are provided for tying the edges to one of the legs I2. Any other suitable means may be used to secure the edges to the leg. The sheet I4 has one edge I40, extended somewhat beyond the fastening means IE to overlap the opposite edge when the sheet is in place on the frame. I prefer also to provide a small mirror I! on the sheet [4 and a pocket l8 which can be used for toilet articles. A few rings 19 are provided on the sheet (4 adjacent to the hooks I5 for attaching a cover sheet.

A frame 22 is mounted on the frame Ill by means of four supporting bars 23 pivoted by loops 24 to the frame 22. The bars 23 are bent as indicated at 25 so that they can be swung over the top edge of the fram 22 to fold inwardly and make small compact unit for storing in an auto mobile. The free ends of the bars 23 shown at 26 are offset with respect to the main part of the bar and are also shaped to fit into tubes I I snugly. Thus, the tubes I I and the frame I0 serve as a means of connecting the legs I2 together and to support the frame 22. No fastening means are necessary to mount the parts together but may be pivoted if desired.

The frame 22 is used to support a receptacle 2! for the purpose of utilizing the enclosure provided by th tent as a shower stall. This receptacle 21 preferably is constructed with a rather deep bottom portion 28 sufilcient to house a shower head 29, valve 30 and valve lever 3|. The receptacle may desirably be provided with a head 32 which will prevent the receptacle from wedging in the frame 22.

A cover sheet 20 is illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. This cover sheet has hooks 2I along its peripheral edge for engaging the rings I9 to secure the cover in position. The cover sheet desirably is made cupped so that it will fit over the frame 22 which is removably mounted on the frame I0.

Referring now to Figure 5, this view illustrates the telescoping connection used for the two sec tions I2a and I2!) of the supporting legs I2. The two sections are tubular as shown and a screw 33 is threaded into the larger section and bent over to provide a handle 34 by which it can be turned against the inner section I2b to clamp th two sections in a desired adjusted position. For a tent enclosure of approximately seven feet high the two sections I 2a and I2!) would be about half that length with enough additional length to provide sufiicient overlap when they are extended to give the necessary strength and rigidity.

Referring to Figure 6 in this figure the supporting joint for securing a seat 35 or a basin support 36 is illustrated. This is merely a slotted bracket 31 which has a toothed portion 38 offset below the bracket and an outer portion 39 offset above the bracket. These portions 38 and 39 will engage the legs I2 at any level and retain the seat or the basin support at any desired level. The basin support 36 is a simple ring with the bracket 31 secured thereto as shown in Figure 2. The brackets will slide ofi the leg I2 if they are not needed.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided an enclosure that may be used for taking showers, as a dressing room and as a shelter. The parts are compact and light in weight so that they may be set up and taken down quickly. The parts are of such size and shape that they may be stored in the trunk compartment of an automobile. The receptacl may be used for storing other articles and for ordinary camp purposes.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A portable knock down structure for the purpose described, comprising a square main frame completely open between its sides, upwardly and downwardly opening non-circular sockets at the corners of said frame, supporting legs for said frame having non-circular upper end portions angularly offset with respect to the le portions removably seated in the downwardly opening sockets, an auxiliary frame smaller than said main frame, four bars pivoted at spaced points around the periphery of said auxiliary frame for swinging movement vertically with respect to the auxiliary frame, said bars having angularly offset non-circular end portions removably seated in the upwardly directed sockets of said main frame.

HENRY W. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,049,714 Herscovitz Jan. '7, 1913 1,844,038 Hooker Feb. 9, 1932 1,940,147 Sankus Dec. 19, 1933 

